Why doesn't the parable apply?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj1QYmdy7IrUQYiXXlLIiFLzy6IX?qid=20061111174506AA0sAqn

Surely if god is ignoring those suffering in hell even when they scream for forgiveness, it is exactly like the pharisee and the levi passing by on the other side of the road.

If god were to act truly in the manner that jesus spoke of, surely he would help those in hell, even if they rejected him in life (i.e. were his enemies, like the samaritan). There is no way you can say he is unable to help them as he is supposed to be omnipotent.

People have been telling me this analogy doesn't work, if so please explain why.

Wacky doodler, how is a creationist propaganda site relevant to this?

Wouldn't an omnipotent god help whether he was invited or not?

Also, I agree the dead person made a choice in life, but eternity is a long time in which to change your mind.

Wefmeister - Thanks, I look forward to visiting never never land.

Answer 1

The overall problem I see is that parables are often used to teach a moral point of view.

When christianity became a religion, they had to adjust these stories (as was done with the early christian writers) in order to enforce their moral point of view at the expense of others (hence the poor Hindu "burning in hell"

Personally, I think all religions are nuts...

Answer 2

In the parable the man that was beat up and left to die really did nothing wrong. The people not helping him were doing the wrong thing.

Jesus would be like the good samaritan. Jesus taught us the right and showed us the way. He died for us on the cross. The big different between your story and this parable is that the man who was beaten up accepted the help from the Samaritan even though he was an enemy.
In your story I guess the man did not accept the help from Jesus. It is hard to help someone if they do not accept your help.

In reality I think this would not happen because God would reward the Hindu monk for all his good works and be given just treatment in Heaven.

Answer 3

First of all the idea that hell is a place of eternal torment is NOT biblical. It clearly sez the consequences of sin is DEATH. If you were thrown into the center of the earth, the molten part, how long would you live. A second? Maybe. Hell is not biblical, it is a poor translation, and is almost always referring to the GRAVE. The lake of fire is the place for those who do not cut it (evil people) and they will be consumed immediately.

Secondly, everyone who has died is DEAD. The bible clearly says people will be raised from the dead AT THE RESSURRECTION. If they are floating around in heaven or suffering in hell, why bother raising them from the dead? They're not dead if this heaven/hell imediately after death "tradition" is true. It is illogical. The bible sez God is not the author of confusion.

If you are truly interested in a biblical discussion of this go to the link below.

Answer 4

It is the perfect analogy. They keep marching on even though they know why everyone is laughing. The Emperor’s New Clothes Once upon a time there was an emperor whose only interest in life was to dress up in fashionable clothes. He kept changing his clothes so that people could admire him. Once, two thieves decided to teach him a lesson. They told the emperor that they were very fine tailors and could sew a lovely new suit for him. It would be so light and fine that it would seem invisible. Only those who were stupid could not see it. The emperor was very excited and ordered the new tailors to begin their work. One day, the king asked the prime minister to go and see how much work the two tailors had done. He saw the two men moving scissors in the air but he could see no cloth! He kept quiet for fear of being called stupid and ignorant. Instead, he praised the fabric and said it was marvellous. Finally, the emperor’s new dress was ready. He could see nothing but he too did not want to appear stupid. He admired the dress and thanked the tailors. He was asked to parade down the street for all to see the new clothes. The emperor paraded down the main street. The people could only see a naked emperor but no one admitted it for fear of being thought stupid. They foolishly praised the invisible fabric and the colours. The emperor was very happy. At last, a child cried out, “The emperor is naked!” Soon everyone began to murmur the same thing and very soon all shouted, “The emperor is not wearing anything!” The emperor realised the truth but preferred to believe that his people were stupid.

Answer 5

Your analogy was based on the assumption that the man was dead. He wasn't. Further, the parable was aimed at teaching a lesson about hypocrisy, not salvation.

The people in Hell have died. They made a conscious decision to ignore God's pleas to come to Him.

It's not a case of whether He chooses to help them or not, these people already made the decision for Him. God won't force or coerce. He only comes when He's invited.

Answer 6

Because God has nothing to do with persons going to hell. That is the consequence of the choices they made on earth. People send themselves to hell, God doesn't. And He certainly doesn't want anyone there.

I know its hard to accept in this modern libertine New age where God is supposed to be the Holy Pillsbury Douhboy and save us from the consequences of hatred and rejection of Him, and in his omnipotence, spare humans from self -responsibility, but it doesn't quite work that way.

Judith 16:17 - in the day of judgment the Lord will take vengeance on the wicked and they shall weep in pain forever. Hell is a place that sinners have prepared for themselves by rejecting God, who desires all people to be saved in His Son Jesus Christ. God sends no one to hell.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/hell.html
In recent years there has arisen a movement that might be called "neo-universalism," according to which it may be that all men, without exception, go to heaven. Advocates of this movement often say things like, "The Church does not teach that anyone is in hell," and they cite statements from Church leaders and documents which sound—taken out of context—as if they teach this. If one reads the documents carefully, it is clear that the Church is not saying that no one at all is in hell but that it has not taught that any particular individual is in hell.
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9809chap.asp
Adventists say the damned will be annihilated body and soul by the fires of hell. After all, including Satan, are destroyed, hell will cease to exist.http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9705convsb.asp
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Answer 7

Don't you get it? He died on a cross so they wouldn't have to go there. I suppose if that's where they are they must have thought just like you think now, and I suppose in a little while that's where you will be - and blaming God for it ! I assure you, there is no one in Hell who doesn't deserve it. I'm sure when you get there, you will realize just how deserving of Hell you are. So cheer up mate - you'll get exactly what you've got coming to you !

Answer 8

Personally, I have NO CLUE as to rather or not God helps those "sentenced" to hell. I'm not dead, so how could i know for sure right?
Several yrs back, I worked retail and i came across a dollar bill that had written in the margin...."Hitler had the ability to go to heaven...if you believe this, you are a true Christian"....I was set back by this and asked a friend what she thought of it....her explanation was...."if Hitler repented a moment before he died, God would have forgiven him and allowed him entrance to HIS kingdom". Again, i was disturbed by this and thought about it long and hard. I will not call myself a devout religious fanatic, however i do believe in God and that He is forgiving. After wrestling with the statement on that dollar bill and the explanation my friend offered....I finally concluded that no matter what we do in life....one God already knows we're gonna do it, BEFORE we actually do it and He has forgiven us already...Jesus bares the scars of our sins and He too has forgiven us prior to us even being born, nonetheless committing our sins.
So in response to your question....those that have lived in sin have been forgiven as long as they have belief in Jesus dieing for our sins and as long as they repent to God prior to dieing.
Believe what YOU feel is right for you....regardless of what ppl tell you...everyone has different beliefs and no one person will know for sure what is truly "right" until their day of reckoning comes. My advise is just be good and true to yourself and to others and you'll be ok :0) but then again, what do i know, i'm mearly mortal too and haven't been to my judgement day yet.
good luck in life
marjenl72

Answer 9

The bible says the gospel will be preached to every man. The question is did they harden their heart against it. It is a choice.

Answer 10

Natural man (you) can read the scriptures, but his soul can not feed on the Word of God.